WHEREAS, National Manufacturing Month was first established in 2012 by the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association to promote the importance of the manufacturing industry and the family-sustaining careers it can offer; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia was once referred to as the “Workshop of the World,” leading the nation in industrial production and manufacturing in the 1800s. Manufacturing in the City has evolved over time and now includes key sectors in the modern global marketplace such as biopharmaceutical, chemical, plastics, and aerospace manufacturing; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia and the region helps to support an estimated 17.2 million jobs in the United States about one in six private-sector jobs. Nearly 12 million Americans (or 9 percent of the workforce) are employed directly in manufacturing. The manufacturing industry is a crucial part of the Philadelphia economy, offering over 775,000 direct and indirect jobs in the area and generating over $3,000,000,000 in sales revenue in 2023; and
WHEREAS, Careers in manufacturing are characterized by above average wages and rewarding work with a well defined career path. Philadelphia’s manufacturing companies add to the vitality and prosperity of our community by providing above average wages and creating family sustainability, yet area manufacturing companies regularly have difficulty filling open positions; and
WHEREAS, Thanks to the work of Mayor Kenney’s Manufacturing Task Force, manufacturers, government and nonprofits started to address the skilled labor shortage through outreach, education, and program development; and
WHEREAS, Since 2012, the first Friday in October has been recognized as National Manufacturing Day and has been previously recognized by this body. To celebrate Manufacturing Day, groups locally, regionally, and nationally will sponsor projects and programs designed to create greater awareness and consciousness of the manufacturing sector; and
WHEREAS, In 2017 the City, led by the Office of Industry and Manufacturing, with external partners including Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, Manufacturing Alliance of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Works, US2020, Urban Manufacturing Alliance and the School District of Philadelphia, has expanded the celebration to span the month of October; and
WHEREAS, Manufacturing Month aims to communicate the opportunities in the sector and spotlight the range of products made in the City of Philadelphia for fields including aerospace, food and beverage, healthcare, packaging, and technology; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes the month of October 2025 as “Manufacturing Month” in the City of Philadelphia
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